We appreciate your comments. Letters must include your name and address. E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail to:
AOPA Flight Training,
421 Aviation Way,
Frederick, Maryland 21701.
Letters may be edited and will be printed as space permits.
Whoops, not again!
I closely identified with "Distracting Visual Cues" on page 40 of the September issue of AOPA Flight Training. I couldn't help but laugh while re-living having nearly landed at the wrong airport not once, but twice! Both times it occurred on flights to the same airport, Bakersfield-Meadows (BFL).
The first time was during my long solo cross-country flight. Prior to getting re-airborne from my first landing spot, I had slightly miscalculated the heading. The slight heading miscalculation might not have been such a big deal all by itself, but BFL lies between two other airports. This, coupled with my nervousness about the haze, led me to be overjoyed to see a runway come into view. Right before the hand-off to the tower, ATC asked me to verify what airport I was landing at. Apparently, I had lined myself up for Shafter-Minter airport, only about eight miles northwest of Bakersfield. I felt like an idiot.
Fast-forward a couple of years. Because of recurring health problems, I was still a student and just getting finished up. I planned another flight to BFL with a new instructor. As we flew to the airport, we were greeted by thick haze. As I started my descent, my instructor and I were both competitively trying to spot the field. She identified it first, but to my amazement it was about 10 to 15 degrees right of where I expected to find it. Not wanting to question my instructor, I descended for the airport. Again, like clockwork, ATC questioned whether I was still heading into BFL or was I intending to land at Bakersfield. Not again!
Phil Batterson
Santa Maria,
California
No quotas please
I took great exception to Ian J. Twombly's article in your September issue (see "Preflight: Doing My Part") stating that DPEs have a quota for practical-test failures. Concerning failures, the FAA will consider investigating when a DPE's pass rate exceeds 90 percent. For those who have a mixture of Part 61 and 141 applicants, then you will always have around one in five applicants who will not meet the standard in a particular area. We do not have to go looking for reasons to bust applicants. To insinuate that we do just to meet a quota is incredibly unfair, and insulting to the hundreds of professional examiners in the country whose integrity is at stake.
Mallory D. Woodcock
FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
Pearl, Mississippi
Wear it proudly
I get several magazines monthly but I can truly say that AOPA Flight Training is the only one that I read cover to cover the day that it arrives. I also re-read all of them to pick up more�pointers. Keep up the great work.
I would also like to let you know that I scored an 87 on the knowledge test, and after two days of miserable weather I passed my checkride yesterday. You would be surprised how much information I used from AOPA Flight Training to get through both events.
One more thing--my wife had bought me an AOPA hat three months ago�and I waited until after the checkride to put it on for the first time. I will wear it proudly.�Thanks again for everything and for being there for us older students and new pilots. I am 54 years old and feel like a kid again.
Dennis R. Murphy
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Erratum
September's "CFI to CFI: What Are They Good For" incorrectly stated that simulator hours can be used towards the three hours of flight by reference to instruments required for the private pilot certificate. In fact, the regulations specify this training must be done in an airplane. AOPA Flight Training regrets the error.
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